At a glance: Chemistry

Did you know:

The department of chemistry and biochemistry – a signature focus of the University – offers an interactive learning environment and is accredited by the American Chemical Society. Students are prepared for research and careers in physical and medical sciences. They learn to master methods in mathematics and physical sciences while developing the competence to identify, analyze and solve scientific problems. Graduates are highly successful in pursuing career paths in medicine, research, industry, forensics or environmental science.

Distinctive features

Thirteen full-time faculty members with Ph.D. degrees and expertise in many areas of chemistry are dedicated teachers and mentors

Small upper-level classes and personal interaction with faculty

The majority of students complete a year or more of research with a faculty member

State-of-the-art facilities and access to modern instrumentation

Facilities

The department of chemistry and biochemistry is located in the Meyer Hall of Science and in the new Mathile Center for the Natural Sciences, which joins Meyer Hall with the College of Pharmacy. The Mathile Center provides more than 95,000 square feet of modern classrooms, laboratories, and seminar and conference rooms.

Student organizations

Student Members of American Chemical Society (ACS), Gamma Sigma Epsilon

Students regularly participate in summer research experiences at both ONU and other universities. The following is a brief list schools where ONU chemistry students have been placed during the summer: The Ohio State University, Darthmouth, Cornell, University of Michigan, University of Oregon, University of Texas, University of Louisville (College of Dentistry), University of Illinois.

Graduate schools

Cornell University, MIT, Georgia Institute of Technology, Indiana University School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Northwestern University, The Ohio State University Colleges of Dentistry, Medicine and Optometry, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Purdue University, University of Chicago College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, University of Illinois, University of Indiana, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin, Vanderbilt University, Yale University.

Career opportunities

Chemistry is the science of matter, while biochemistry is the science of matter in living organisms. Careers in chemistry and biochemistry may involve working on cures for cancer, monitoring the ozone that protects us from the sun, developing new textiles and consumer products, making new materials and catalysts for industrial and pharmaceutical use, and protecting our water supplies.

In the spotlight

For the last nine years, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Ohio Northern has had at least one Goldwater Scholarship winner and/or honorable mention. In 2013 two ONU Chemistry majors were named Goldwater scholars.

Chemistry students give presentations of their research on the local, regional and national levels. ONU chemistry graduates have a very high placement rate into graduate and professional school as well as into the workforce.

ONU Student Members of the American Chemical Society has garnered an honorable mention at the national conference for four consecutive years.

Nearly every student in the major spends at least one summer doing a paid summer research experience with a corporation or an academic/research institution.